Family Dogg
Encyclopedia
The Family Dogg were a British
vocal group best known for their harmony vocals.
groups, Los Flaps and Diamond Boys, Albert Hammond
and Steve Rowland
met for the first time at a concert in Madrid
in 1965. In 1966 The Family Dogg was formed in England with the participation of the singers Mike Hazlewood and Christine Holmes (Later known under the name Kristine Sparkle). The debut album, A Way of Life
was released in 1969, and the title track scored a number 6 hit in the UK Singles Chart
. Jimmy Page
and John Paul Jones
of Led Zeppelin
were guest musicians on that album.
In 1970 the group was renamed as "Steve Rowland and The Family Dogg". In April 1970 they got a Number 2 hit in the Netherlands
with the song "Sympathy" previously recorded by the group Rare Bird
in 1969. In 1972 Steve Rowland released a last Family Dogg album, View from Rowland's Head, with guest musicians like Chris Spedding
on the guitar, and Ireen Sheer
as singer.
Kevin Lamb - vocals
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
vocal group best known for their harmony vocals.
Career
The idea was born when the Anglo-American singers of the SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
groups, Los Flaps and Diamond Boys, Albert Hammond
Albert Hammond
Albert Hammond OBE is a British singer, songwriter and record producer from Gibraltar.-Birth and early success:Hammond was born in London, England, where his family had been evacuated to from Gibraltar during World War II. His family returned to Gibraltar shortly after his birth, and there he grew...
and Steve Rowland
Steve Rowland (record producer)
Steve Rowland is singer, columnist, record producer and actor. He grew up in Beverly Hills. His father is film director Roy Rowland, his mother Ruth was a writer, whilst Louis B...
met for the first time at a concert in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in 1965. In 1966 The Family Dogg was formed in England with the participation of the singers Mike Hazlewood and Christine Holmes (Later known under the name Kristine Sparkle). The debut album, A Way of Life
A Way of Life (album)
A Way of Life is the début album by British vocal harmony and folk-rock group The Family Dogg. It features singer-songwriter Albert Hammond, and a session group includes Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and John Bonham. Elton John may have played piano on the title track...
was released in 1969, and the title track scored a number 6 hit in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
and John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones (musician)
John Paul Jones is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a...
of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
were guest musicians on that album.
In 1970 the group was renamed as "Steve Rowland and The Family Dogg". In April 1970 they got a Number 2 hit in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
with the song "Sympathy" previously recorded by the group Rare Bird
Rare Bird
Rare Bird was a progressive rock band founded in 1969. They were formed in England, but had more success in other European countries than they did at home. They are mostly remembered for the haunting, organ-based track "Sympathy"...
in 1969. In 1972 Steve Rowland released a last Family Dogg album, View from Rowland's Head, with guest musicians like Chris Spedding
Chris Spedding
Chris Spedding is an English rock and roll and jazz guitarist, best known for his session work. Allmusic states - "Spedding is one of the UK's most versatile session guitarists, and has had a long career on two continents that saw him tackle nearly every style of rock and roll, as well as...
on the guitar, and Ireen Sheer
Ireen Sheer
Ireen Sheer is a German-British pop singer, who has competed in several Eurovision Song Contests over the past four decades...
as singer.
Original line-up
- Steve RowlandSteve Rowland (record producer)Steve Rowland is singer, columnist, record producer and actor. He grew up in Beverly Hills. His father is film director Roy Rowland, his mother Ruth was a writer, whilst Louis B...
- vocals, guitar, drums - Albert HammondAlbert HammondAlbert Hammond OBE is a British singer, songwriter and record producer from Gibraltar.-Birth and early success:Hammond was born in London, England, where his family had been evacuated to from Gibraltar during World War II. His family returned to Gibraltar shortly after his birth, and there he grew...
- vocals, guitar - Mike Hazlewood - vocals, guitar
- Christine Holmes -vocals
- Doreen De Veuve - vocals
- Pam "Zooey" Quinn - vocals
Kevin Lamb - vocals
Later members
- Ireen SheerIreen SheerIreen Sheer is a German-British pop singer, who has competed in several Eurovision Song Contests over the past four decades...
- vocals - Sue Lynn - vocals
- Sherri Lynn [Brenda Pidduck] - vocals
- Pat Arnold - vocals
Discography
- 1969: A Way of LifeA Way of Life (album)A Way of Life is the début album by British vocal harmony and folk-rock group The Family Dogg. It features singer-songwriter Albert Hammond, and a session group includes Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and John Bonham. Elton John may have played piano on the title track...
- 1972: View from Rowland's Head